‘The Hobbit’ Cast Image: Bilbo Baggins & The Thirteen Dwarves

The road to produce The Hobbit as a major motion picture has been more perilous than the actual story of The Hobbit itself. Rights issues, union issues, director Guillermo del Toro leaving, studio bankruptcy, illness – and that’s only in the last decade of trying to make this film.

But that all will – hopefully – be well and over with starting March 21st, when shooting on The Hobbit officially begins. To mark the impending start date, the cast of The Hobbit recently held a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, giving fans their first look at Bilbo and his band of thirteen dwarves.

Of course they’re not in makeup, they’re not in costume, and they’re not digitally enhanced to appear as tiny people; nevertheless, at least we get a glimpse of what the group will look like all together in the same place. If you squint really hard and imagine a Middle Earth-esque mode of dress, it’s almost like you’re looking at a still taken directly from the (future, yet unmade) movie.

Frankly, the first thing that pops to mind is: Those men are far too fit to be playing bulky, dwarven gentlemen. Of course, I’m sure the makeup and costume people will make the necessary adjustments to each of them, just as they did with John Rhys-Davies in The Lord of the Rings, but at least that man had a head-start in the bulky department.

Speaking about the part of Bilbo Baggins, Martin Freeman had this to say:

“I’m extremely chuffed.”

Which, according to Merriam-Webster, means “quite pleased” and not something crass or obscene, as I originally assumed.

There’s no doubt that the primary cast members – particularly Martin Freeman (The UK Office, Sherlock) – have all been inspired choices. My only question is, will this be the cinematic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, or will this be the prequel to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings? Now, I’ll happily watch either film, truth be told, but I’d much prefer to watch the former to the latter.

The Hobbit was a whimsical, sometimes hilarious adventure-fantasy for children. TheLord of the Rings was a darker, sometimes horrifying adventure-fantasy – and so, too, was its film adaptation. The point being, I don’t have any desire to see The Hobbit filmed in the same dark and dire style of its follow-up. Also, I could care less if Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, and Christopher Lee reprise their roles (though I’d be inclined to make an exception for that ancient badass, Lee).

The Hobbit, a two-part 3D film, begins shooting March 21st and is set to hit theaters December 19th, 2012.

I’m not sure how they will work Frodo into the story considering Bilbo was 52 when he returned from his adventures with Gandalf and Frodo is born 26 years later. (No I don’t know these off the top of my head…I looked in the LoTR Appendix) I understand Peter Jackson isn’t overly worried about remaining 100% accurate with Tolkien, but Elijah Wood’s part seems to be added just for the sake of tying the 2 series together…which isn’t necessary for HIS part.

As for Orlando Bloom, I seriously wonder how involved his “part” will be. Rumors of it being a small part could basically mean he’s standing at the side of his father the Elven King and say’s “I don’t like dwarves…rawr!” I doubt he will honestly have any more than a token cameo.

Quick note on Frodo: He’s only going to be in briefly at the beginning and possibly end of the film. Bilbo (played by Ian Holm in that scene, I believe) is going to read him the book he wrote about his adventures (There and Back Again) and the movie will unfold from there.

A little less cause for worry about the inclusion of Frodo, I hope.

And yes, per the rumors on teh interwebz, we will only see Bloom for a shot or two, though we’ll have to wait and see for sure. We will probably see him in the Battle of the Five Armies as well.

I have to disagree, Sam. I think both actors played the parts wonderfully and I really can’t see anyone else having played those parts. I don’t think it was necessary, however, to have both return for The Hobbit. Maybe as bit parts at the end of the second film just to tie them together, but not necessary. I do, however, trust Peter Jackson to do right by The Hobbit.

Nah, little people have different body proportions that “regular” people, whereas hobbits basically have the same proportions as humans, other than having larger feet. They’re like scaled-down humans, whereas little people (for those who are confused, that’s the proper term for the politically-incorrect term, “midgets”) do not have the same bodily proportions.

Or maybe I’m taking this too far and you were just kidding. Either way.

Which is why they should have used real dwarfs to play the Dwarves, and saved the camera tricks for the Hobbits. Real little people would have made the movie more visually appealing, less “plasticky”, and there are several fine experienced actors available for the lead roles (Thorin, Balin, etc.).

I suspect that Bloom and Wood, and those lotr returners will only be cameos and little more. I also think that we WILL see a HOBBIT movie, and not a lotr prequel.

It’s p.Jackson directing again, so it will have major connectors to its predesessor. If Del Toro was still directing it would certainly be more stand-alone, but I for one can’t wait to see where Jackson takes it. I admire his vision and trust it with this source material.

That crowd of dwarves and Bilbo look hungry, (for food services AND a hollywood career!)like the fellowship did, before anyone knew most of them. It looks like a good bunch, I can’t wait to see them crowded in Bilbo’s house while he gets them lunch, let the humor pour.

I’m glad someone had the foresight to take this picture. I think in years to come people will look back on it and reminisce that was the beginnings of a great duology that was a fine testament to the Tolkien masterwork.

I am not happy with the casting of Thorin. Armitrage is a good actor, but Thorin was the eldest of the dwarves..Jackson takes way too much liberty with the original story. Tolkien is rolling in his grave..Although the money his offspring are receiving might mitigate that..We still have the books..

Alright, I was on the other side of the fence with you nay sayers when I first heard about all the cast members from LotR returning to reprise their roles but then I did some real digging and reading to understand how and why Jackson is doing what he’s doing. The conclusion I have come to is I jumped the fence and am in full support of Jackson’s Vision.

“”The Quest of Erebor” is a work of fantasy fiction by J. R. R. Tolkien, posthumously published by his son Christopher Tolkien in Unfinished Tales (1980). This work explains how and why Gandalf arranged for the retaking of the Lonely Mountain (Erebor in Sindarin), an adventure recounted from the perspective of Bilbo Baggins many years before in Tolkien’s The Hobbit.”

This one page explains most of the cast choices, was written by Tolkien himself so nothing is being made up and firmly links the story with the larger mythology.

I mean haven’t you all wondered WHY 13 Dwarves and a Wizard just showed up on Bilbo’s doorstep one day? Where and how that strange map arrived in Oakenshield’s hands in the first place? Where Gandalf mysteriously disappeared to half way through the book? What LotRs big bad guy has been doing since losing his ring? Well I for one DO and think exploring the larger picture won’t take away from the Hobbit but instead only add to it’s epicness.

Even if some of you still don’t like the idea, at least now you are informed as to why Jackson is doing what he is doing.

Great information! I’m already very excited about The Hobbit, but reading this article about the Quest of Erebor just reconfirms my opinion that there is no way this movie is going to be a disappointment. I didn’t know why Frodo was going to be in the Hobbit, but I figured that Peter Jackson isn’t just throwing him in for some half ass reason.

I thought Frodo’s involvement was merely as narrator, reading the Red Book which recounted both the tales in There And Back Again (The Hobbit) and The Lord Of The Rings.

My biggest concern is how they’re going to make a cool, bad-ass dragon talk without it being a total and utter cheesefest. I have faith in Jackson’s decisions overall, but that’s going to be a difficult one…

yes, if you read the link I provided, Frodo is asking Gandalf to tell the tale of what was going on. If Jackson follows the story that would mean Gandalf will be doing most of the narration and Frodo will play only a small part which I am ok with.

and the last rumor has it that non other than Spock himself(Leonard Nimoy) will be voicing the Dragon! I’m unsure if Nimoy has the voice anymore to pull it off and would probably prefer someone with a much deeper tone but we will see.